Aging potable liquids in glass containers



J y 1937. D. L. FRANCESCON 2,086,073

AGING POTABLE LIQUIDS IN GLASS CONTAINERS Filed April 24, 1936 lbw/ll- Pfanbedcom Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orFrcE AGING POTABLE LIQUIDS IN GLASS CONTAINERS Dan L. France soon, Chicago, 111..- Application April 24, 1936, Serial No. 76,188

2 Claims. (01. 99 277'.1) T

My invention relates in general to the processing of whiskey and similar potable beverages, and has more particular reference to means for and method of aging distilled spirits, more particularly whiskey, in glass or similar inert or vitreous containers.

It has long been recognized that whiskey and the like does not age or become mellow through the removal or conversion of constituents of the raw product as long as the same remains in glass or other containers of vitreous or inert material. It is, however, much more convenient -to bottle the product as soon as it is made rather than to store the product in suitable aging vats or barrels, and an important object of my present invention is to provide simple and relatively inexpensive means whereby liquids of the character mentioned may be subjected to an aging process while packaged in glass containers.

Another important object is. to provide a simple and inexpensive attachment readily mountable in a glass bottle and adapted to impart a mellowing influence upon the potable contents of the bottle; a, further object being to provide an attachment which does not require any change in the form of shape of the container.

Another important object is to provide a whiskey aging attachment for glass 'bottles, adapted to be secured in position in the bottle solely by means of the bottle cover or cap.

Numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention: will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring. to the drawing, the single figure comprises a sectional view through a glass whiskey bottle in which is mounted a whiskey aging attachment embodying my present invention.

To illustrate the invention I have shown on the drawing a bottle I I whichmay be of any suitable or convenient form which is adapted-to contain a liquid such as whiskey. The bottle may have a neck. I5 defining an opening-giving access to the contents of the bottle, and in the illustrated embodiment the outer surfaces of the neck I5 defining the opening are formed with screw threads to receive a metallic capjor'bottle cover formed with threaded portions corresponding with and adapted to threadinglyengage the formed threads I6 on the bottle neck.

The whiskey aging attachment of my present invention comprises a preferably glass tube I9 having perforations 2| at intervals in the side walls of the tube. The tubeisadapted to receive and support a plurality oflumps of charcoal 23 I or other material adapted to aid in the whiskey aging process. There are, of course, several materials-adapted to this purpose, but I prefer to 5 employ one-quarter inch cubes of wood charcoal.

The tube I9 may be loaded with the charcoal cubes 23 to a desired'depth and inserted through the neck l5. The tube has an open end 24 defined by an outwardly extending flange 25 which 10 is adapted to overlie upon the end of the neck I5 and to be clampingly secured in-position by the cover I1, which may be provided with a disc 26 to overlie the open end of the tube I9 and seal the same. nular gasket 21 which extends. around the tube adjacent the flange 25 in position to lie between said flange and the end of the bottle neck I5. When the bottle cover I I is applied it will be seen that the cap, in cooperation with the neck of the bottle, will squeeze the edges of the disc 26, the flange 25 and the gasket 21 together between the cap and the end of the bottle neck in order thus to firmly and completely seal the container.

, 25 It will be seen that the tube l9, when mounted in operating position inthe neck of the bottle, will extend substantially to the bottom of the bottle and be immersed in the liquid contents of the same. The contents of the bottle, however,

may flow into and through the openings 2I and thus come into contact with the purifying material contained in the tube. In this fashion, the liquid. is subjected to the aging and mellowing process although the material 23, being in lumps 5 to use up its contents, at which time the-tube 40 may be withdrawn and discarded, leaving the bottle contents in the bottle without sedimentation from the material 23.

It will be seen that the agingattachment does not require special bottle .construction or shape,

is of inexpensive character; and is well s'uited for easy attachment uponbottles of standard construction. The attachment, moreover, permits whiskey and the like tobe bottled, ready for sale,

as soon as manufactured. The aging process continues until the product is ready for consumption, at which time the aging tube and its contents may be easily removed and thrown away.

It is thought thatthe invention and its numer- I prefer also to interpose an an- 15.

bus attendant advantages will be fully understood 5 1. For use in combination with a bottle hav ing a restricted neck terminating in a bottle opening and adapted to contain a potable liquid and having a cover for-said bottle adaptedvto 15 engage the outer surfaces of said neck, the com- 1 bination of an elongated tubular container having an open end and adapted for insertion through the neck of the bottle, said container having flanged means at its'open end adapted 20 to overlie and engage the end of said neck whereby the bottle coverwhen applied on said neck may seal the open end of said container and, in cooperation with said neck, may clamp said flanged means by and between the .bottle neck and said cover in position supporting the container within the bottle with portions of the container immersed in the liquid in said bottle, said container having lateral perforations and a liquid aging medium, such as charcoal, within said container whereby to expose the liquid to the action of said mediumwithout permitting the medium to escape from said container.

2. The combination of elements set forth in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a glass tube having an open end provided with an out-' standing peripheral flange, the opposite end of the tubefbeing closed and said tube at and near the closed end thereof being provided with a plurality of perforations in the walls of the tube.

DAN L. FRANCE SCON. 

